Former Carmel resident named grand marshal of St. Patrick’s Day parade 

Former Carmel resident Tommy Feighery has been named grand marshal of the 2026 Northern Westchester-Putnam County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for Sunday, March 8, in Mahopac. 

The parade, one of the largest in the state, will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance near the 9/11 memorial in front of the Mahopac firehouse on Route 6, near Croton Falls Road. The line-up will be between Mt. Hope Road and the firehouse and will step off at 2 p.m. sharp. 

Buses will run from the Lake Plaza Shopping Center (Stop & Shop) to Route 6/Croton Falls Road to bring attendees to the parade site beginning at 11:30 a.m. 

Organizers said the annual event celebrates Irish heritage and culture and features marching bands, pipe and drum corps, civic organizations, youth groups and local officials. 

The Carmel Town Board issued a proclamation congratulating Feighery on the accomplishment, saying it was with “great joy and local pride” that the town honors him. The proclamation declared Feighery an Outstanding Citizen and Friend of the town of Carmel. 

“This is a well-deserved honor for someone who embodies community, tradition and Irish pride,” Town Supervisor Mike Cazzari wrote on Facebook, calling Feighery “a true son of Carmel.” 

Feighery was born Oct. 12, 1966, in Long Beach, N.Y., to Tom and Nancy Feighery. In 1971, his family moved to his mother’s native County Offaly, Ireland, where they lived for eight years. The family returned to the United States in 1979 and settled in Carmel, where Feighery attended school and later raised his family. 

As a teenager, Feighery began playing with the West-Put Gaels Gaelic Athletic Association club, beginning a long association as a player, coach, manager and supporter. He was a member of the team that won the New York Under-18 minor championship in 1984. 

Feighery has more than 30 years of experience in commercial, residential, and tunnel construction. He began his career in 1986 with Local 18 in New York City, later spending five years with Local 30 Operating Engineers before joining New York City Sandhogs Local 147. During his tenure with the Sandhogs, he served as a foreman, steward, member of the contract negotiations committee and business representative for the local and national chapters. 

In 2018, Feighery joined the Putnam County government as a project manager, overseeing construction projects and managing external contractors. He was appointed deputy county executive in 2020 and helped coordinate the county’s COVID-19 response, including establishing testing and vaccination clinics. He also participated in budget planning, assisted with union contract negotiations and oversaw renovations at Tilly Foster Farm and improvements to the Putnam County Golf Course. In 2023, he was appointed commissioner of the Putnam County Department of Public Works. 

Feighery owned and operated Fiddler’s Green Pub in Carmel for more than 30 years. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has served on its board. He also volunteers with the Fraternal Order of Police, Stephen P. Driscoll Lodge 704, and has coached West-Put Gaels youth teams, CYO basketball and rugby and basketball at The Harvey School. 

Feighery and his wife, Melissa, live in Pawling. They have five children and two grandchildren. 

Additional information about the parade, including road closures and parking details, is expected to be announced by organizers in the coming weeks.